Policy Recommendations

Recommendations to the City of Los Angeles for the Development of a City-Wide Digital Inclusion Plan Monday, March 16, 2009 Introduction The signatories of this document ask the City of Los Angeles to take action to ensure that everyone — regardless of who they are or where they live — can participate in and take advantage of the economic, educational, health, and civic opportunities afforded by broadband and related information technology. We ask the City to address issues of broadband availability and other barriers to adoption, such as affordability, accessibility, technical assistance, and lack of relevant and useful online content. In addition, we ask the City to ensure the permanent involvement of the community in the development and implementation of policies aimed at promoting broadband and Digital Inclusion. While we understand that current financial constraints limit some activities, the City can take many lowor no-cost steps to leverage available assets, maximize current projects, and develop partnerships with nonprofits, community-based organizations, and the private sector. The development of a strategic plan for Digital Inclusion will be crucial in capturing some of the seven billion dollars the federal government has allocated to broadband deployment and digital literacy. The Benefits of a Digitally Connected City Many political and community leaders have called for Digital Inclusion for the City of Los Angeles. This call is based on the realization that broadband and related computer technology can provide important economic, social, educational, and health benefits to city residents. On February 7, 2007, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilmember Tony Cardenas outlined a plan to cover Los Angeles with wireless Internet access. Mayor Villaraigosa stated, “With L.A. Wi-Fi, we are dedicating ourselves to the idea that universal access to technology makes our entire economy stronger.”1 A digitally connected city is no longer a luxury but a necessity in order to accomplish the public policy goals for its residents. These public policy goals include: • Enable economic and community development. In 2005 it was reported that 60% of new jobs nationwide will be in professional and service-related occupations requiring, at a minimum, a basic level of proficiency in computers.2 In addition, a recent report by CENIC noted that a $376-billion upside in gross state product (GSP) and two million additional jobs by 2010 is possible if wireline and wireless information infrastructure is improved in the state.3 Educate and train people for employment. With access to broadband, students are able to connect to a whole world of research and information, and gain new means of communicating with teachers at their local schools and other learners across the globe. Early research indicates that such technology can have a strong impact on improving academic performance, particularly among children with lower grades.4 Improve the quality of health care. The medical field is increasing the use of new technology to provide health services, to monitor patient symptoms, and to train providers at a distance. Research has demonstrated that these digitally inclusive systems can greatly improve the quality of care, enable - Page 1 For more information and co-sign the recommendations, visit: www.digitalinclusionla.wordpress.com • • patients to manage chronic conditions more effectively from home, reduce costs, and allow access to vital health information.5 • Support civic engagement. Internet technology also enables greater citizen participation and the timely receipt of public information.6 In addition, the Internet has facilitated the association and collaboration of people across state and national borders for information and advocacy purposes.7 Promote public safety and delivery of government services. Mobile broadband has proved beneficial in community disaster management, traffic control, and citizen response. In their efforts to improve public safety, local governments are making efficient use of video surveillance, hazardous material tracking, incident reporting, and management from the field. Efficiencies have also been reported in using wireless for parking meters and utility meter reading.8 • The Wired for Wireless?9 report produced by Community Partners, the California Community Technology Policy Group, the BroadBand Institute of California, and the California Emerging Technology Fund provides additional information about the benefits of Digital Inclusion and the role local jurisdictions can play in its promotion. The Digital Divide in Los Angeles The City of Los Angeles is still far from ensuring that all Angelinos are able to reap the benefits provided by broadband and information technology. Several recent reports paint a bleak picture: • The Wireless Feasibility Report10 developed by Civitium and coordinated by the City’s Information Technology Agency (ITA) stated that only 62% of households have a computer at home, compared to the national average of 73%; and that only 57.7% of households in the City have Internet access, compared to the national average of 69%. The report also mentioned that the broadband market may not be addressing the needs of many low-income citizens. On top of that, Angelinos are paying 27 to 60 times the price paid for broadband in other developed cities. Finally, the community outreach performed as part of the report highlighted the need to address other barriers to adoption, such as lack of equipment, digital literacy, and relevant content and applications. The Digital Inclusion Strategy Report11 developed by the ITA stated that there is little promotion of City Digital Inclusion programs because services are not publicized as part of a Digital Inclusion or digital literacy program. In addition, programs are implemented on an ad-hoc and project-by-project approach and their sustainability is a major issue due to rapid technology advances and variable and/or limited program funding resources. Furthermore, the report stated that City programs tend to focus on access to technology infrastructure, such as affordable computers and broadband Internet access. • The In Search of Digital Equity12 report produced by the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs and the Californians and Information Technology13 survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California also provide important data about the Digital Divide in the State of California and the City of Los Angeles. - Page 2 For more information and co-sign the recommendations, visit: www.digitalinclusionla.wordpress.com Recommendations The signatories of this document provide the following public policy recommendations to the City of Los Angeles on how to construct a Digitally Inclusive City. Many of these recommendations are also supported by the recommendations provided by the Wireless Feasibility Report14 and the Digital Inclusion Strategy Report.15 I. A Digital Inclusion Plan. It is imperative for the City of Los Angeles to develop a comprehensive city-wide Digital Inclusion plan that establishes a clear vision, objectives, and strategies. The Digital Inclusion plan should aim to ensure that all residents have access to affordable broadband (regardless of who they are or where they live) and can participate in and take advantage of the economic, educational, health, and civic opportunities afforded by broadband and related information technology. A blueprint is needed to develop cohesion among City initiatives, guide partnerships with community/private stakeholders, and assess the effectives of current programs. Similar plans have already been developed by other US cities, including San Francisco, Milwaukee, Houston, and others.16 The Digital Inclusion plan should incorporate the objectives listed below. For each objective, we have highlighted specific strategies that can be undertaken by the City. Due to limited resources, in most cases we expect the City to play the role of ‘facilitator’ and develop partnerships with nonprofits, community-based organizations, and the private sector in order to accomplish the objectives and strategies. Specific benchmarks should also be identified for each objective as part of the Digital Inclusion plan. • Objective 1: Ensure that all Angelinos have access to broadband and related computer technology. Strategy 1. Leverage City assets, such as the fiber networks, to deploy/support community wireless networks in the most needed communities in partnership with city agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector.17 As recommended by the Wireless Feasibility Report, The City should also establish a consistent mechanism for solicitation, review, and facilitation of pilot wireless community projects. Strategy 2. Coordinate a computer recycling and refurbishment program, as recommended by the Digital Inclusion Strategy Report. The City can coordinate a program in which recycled and refurbished computers (from City departments and private corporations) can be distributed to City technology centers and nonprofit organizations that provide Digital Inclusion services.18 Revenue may even be generated by selling the e-waste material (equipment not suitable for refurbishment).19 Strategy 3. Advocate for the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC)20 to connect schools, community clinics, government buildings, and nonprofits to the Internet. Strategy 4. Require new affordable, workforce, and public housing projects funded by City money to include broadband infrastructure,21 and allow broadband costs (network deployment, network maintenance, and workforce development training for network maintenance) to be permissible under operating funds for existing projects — especially funds coming from the Housing Trust Fund.22 • Objective 2: Ensure that online applications and content are relevant and address community needs. - Page 3 For more information and co-sign the recommendations, visit: www.digitalinclusionla.wordpress.com Strategy 1. Centralize data online about City Digital Inclusion projects and disseminate the information. For example, the City can collaborate with the Healthy City Project (www.healthycity.org)23 to aggregate information about City Digital Inclusion services on a cuttingedge GIS mapping platform. The Healthy City Project currently has a partnership with the Los Angeles County 211, in which the 211 information is accessible online via the Healthy City website. Strategy 2. Support local multimedia production. New regulations have threatened support to public access media such as LA Cityview 35.24 With resources to public media decreasing, the City should identify new partnerships to support and enable the production of local content. The City should also support and fund multimedia production projects that can generate new content for LA Cityview 35 and other public media channels.25 • Objective 3. Ensure that broadband and related information technology is affordable to all residents. Strategy 1. Develop partnerships with local banking institutions that can provide low-interest loan programs for low-income individuals and families wanting to acquire computers. For example, the City of Riverside has a partnership with Altura Credit Union to provide 0% financing in the purchase of a new computer.26 These types of programs should be linked to training initiatives that can help residents learn how to use the new equipment. Strategy 2. Promote competition among service providers in order to decrease broadband pricing. • Objective 4. Ensure that broadband and related information technology is accessible to the disabled community and people who could benefit from assistive technology. Strategy 1. Require that all City websites adhere to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines of the Web Accessibility Initiative and of the U.S. Section 508 Standards for accessibility adopted by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board of the U.S. Federal government.27 Strategy 2. Mandate that libraries and other City-administered computer/broadband access points provide adequate equipment for disabled users. Strategy 3. Promote awareness of Assistive Technology (AT) resource and loan programs such as the California Assistive Technology Exchange (CATE) and the California AT Network. Currently available local and state AT resources should be disseminated via City departments that serve the disabled community.28 • Objective 5. Identify and support projects that provide training and technical assistance to its residents. Strategy 1. Coordinate community events to provide technology training and information to residents in underserved neighborhoods. 29 Strategy 2. Develop partnerships with nonprofits and the private sector to bring current digital literacy trainings to City computer labs currently being underused. 30 Strategy 3. Implement a workforce training program that helps youth learn technical skills in the areas of computer repair and technical assistance. 31 Strategy 4. Promote awareness among City departments and agencies about digital literacy programs - Page 4 For more information and co-sign the recommendations, visit: www.digitalinclusionla.wordpress.com being conducted by nonprofit organizations and explore possible partnership opportunities. For example, the City can hold an annual Digital Literacy Awareness conference between City departments, agencies, and nonprofits. 32 II. System of Coordination, Accountability, and Implementation. We recommend that the City of Los Angeles create the Office of Broadband and Digital Inclusion. We believe that this office should address the broader broadband and Digital Inclusion needs of the City, and lead the development of partnerships with nonprofit, community-based organizations, and with the private sector to accomplish its objectives.33 Some key responsibilities of this Office would be to: • • • • Lead the implementation of the Digital Inclusion plan for the City of Los Angeles; Coordinate use of City assets and existing infrastructure or resources for the deployment of broadband and Digital Inclusion pilot projects (including pilot wireless projects); Facilitate partnerships between City agencies, private sector, and nonprofits for the implementation of joint Digital Inclusion projects; and Inform the Mayor and City Council on the development of policy considerations in the areas of broadband and Digital Inclusion. The proposed Office may be located within the ITA, the Mayor’s Office, or any other City agency. Regardless of its location, the office will maintain a focus on Digital Inclusion. III. Stakeholder Engagement We recommend that the City create a Board of Digital Inclusion Commissioners in charge of channeling input from the community to the City on issues regarding Digital Inclusion. This Board would work closely with the proposed Office of Broadband and Digital Inclusion. The Board should be representative of leaders working in key areas of Digital Inclusion, such as digital literacy, accessibility, assistive technology, deployment, telemedicine, workforce development, and others. Fiscal Impact Although the City is facing difficult financial circumstances, it is unreasonable to think that the large goal of Digital Inclusion can be accomplished without any added or repurposed resources. Thus, we believe it is important to provide adequate resources to accomplish these broader objectives. Alternately, the cost of not addressing Digital Inclusion appropriately will be greater in the future. Below are estimates of the fiscal cost to implement the recommendations outlined above. • • • Office of Broadband and Digital Inclusion. Salaries and benefits for 3 staff people who are experts in the areas of broadband and Digital Inclusion. Board of Digital Inclusion Commissioners. Resources to staff the Commission meetings. Commissioners would be required to be volunteers. Development of Digital Inclusion Plan. Reallocation of staff time to develop the plan and convene meetings with the community. Most of the work in gathering input from the community has already been captured in this document and through the community outreach conducted as part of the - Page 5 For more information and co-sign the recommendations, visit: www.digitalinclusionla.wordpress.com Wireless Feasibility Report. However, some additional meetings may still be required. • Implementation of Digital Inclusion Plan by the Office of Broadband and Digital Inclusion. A programmatic budget of 1 million dollars annually to implement pilot projects and develop partnerships with nonprofits, community-based organizations, and the private sector to fulfill the Digital Inclusion plan. In conclusion, we believe that development of a Digital Inclusion plan may only require minimal cost and some reallocation of current staff time. Signatories For a current list of signatories, please visit: www.digitalinclusionla.wordpress.com. Note: This initiative is coordinated by Community Partners (www.CommunityPartners.org) in collaboration with nonprofits and community-based organizations in Los Angeles for the development of a Digital Inclusion plan and it is supported by the Community Collaborative Fund/California Consumer Protection Foundation. For more information, please contact: Richard Chabran, Policy Advisor, CCTPG at chabran@cctpg.org. - Page 6 For more information and co-sign the recommendations, visit: www.digitalinclusionla.wordpress.com Endnotes 1 Barboza, Tony and James S. Granelli, “L.A. Mayor Wants Citywide Wireless Access,” at http://articles.latimes.com/2007/feb/14/business/fi-wifi14. For more information, see: Wynne, Maria E. and Lane F. Coop, “A Road Map Toward Digital Inclusion; New Imperatives Offer Municipalities, Social, and Economic Opportunities,” (Redmond: Microsoft, 2007) at http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/f/cdf8d9fa-c7b6-4524b516198e7812a 85f/78403_071128_di_ white paper_f1t0_mg.pdf. 3 2 For more information, visit: CENIC and Gartner, “Gigabit or Bust — a Broadband Vision for California,” (Los Alamitos: CENIC, 2003) at http://www.cenic.org/publications/archives/glossies/Gartner_Full.pdf. For more information, see: Beltran, Daniel O., Kuntal K. Das, and Robert W. Fairlie, “Home Computers and Educational Outcomes: Evidence from the NLSY97and CPS,” Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, (Nov 2008) at http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/ifdp/2008/958/ifdp958.pdf. See also Fairlie, Robert W., “The Effects of Home Computers on School Enrollment,” Economics of Education Review, (Oct 2005): 533-547. See also Warschauer, Mark, Technology and Social Inclusion: Rethinking the Digital Divide, (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2003). See also Mann, Dale, Charol Shakeshaft, Jonathan Becker, and Robert Kottkamp, “West Virginia Story: Achievement Gains from a Statewide Comprehensive Instructional Technology Program,” (1999) as cited in “Measuring Digital Opportunity for America’s Children: Where We Stand and Where We Go From Here,” The Children’s Partnership (June 2005). For more information, see: California Telemedicine and e-Health Center, “Deploying Ubiquitous Broadband in Rural California to Enhance Economic Development, Education and Healthcare: A Strategy to Develop a Statewide eHealth Network,” (Sacramento: California Telemedicine and eHealth Center, 2005) at http://www.caltelassn.com/Reports06/MiscInfo/ctecbroadband.pdf. The real benefit of e-government is that it allows citizens to impact policy and make decisions online. Experiments in this area are occurring abroad with countries like Estonia leading the way in online and mobile voting in national elections. Without Digital Inclusion, citizens could not participate in movements like MoveOn.org or Save Darfur to generate awareness, discuss common issues and mobilize people to take action. For example, the Livermore Info Net Collaborative (LINC) uses a high-speed wireless network to synchronize and disseminate video and emergency data among city/state emergency agencies, public libraries, the school district, and the police/fire departments. LINC was successfully demonstrated during emergency drills in April and November, 2007. http://www.wca.org/sig/eclic. 9 Community Partners, the California Community Technology Policy Group, the BroadBand Institute of California, and the California Emerging Technology Fund, “Wired for Wireless?: Towards Digital Inclusion and Next Generation Government-Led Wireless Networks,” (2008) at http://www.CommunityPartners.org/wirelessdocuments.html. 10 11 8 7 6 5 4 Civitium, “Feasibility Report,” at http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2007/07-3263_rpt_ita_1-20-09.pdf. Information Technology Agency, “Digital Inclusion Strategy Report,” at http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2007/07-3367_rpt_ita_10-14-08.pdf. 12 Modarres, Ali, “In Search of Digital Equity,” The Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs, (2008) at http://www.patbrowninstitute.org/publications/associatedirector.html. 13 Baldassare, Mark, Dean Bonner, Jennifer Paluch, and Sonja Petek, “Californians and Information Technology,” Public Policy Institute of California, (2008) at http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=831. 14 15 Civitium, “Feasibility Report,” at http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2007/07-3263_rpt_ita_1-20-09.pdf. Information Technology Agency, “Digital Inclusion Strategy Report,” at http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2007/07-3367_rpt_ita_10-14-08.pdf. - Page 7 For more information and co-sign the recommendations, visit: www.digitalinclusionla.wordpress.com City and County of San Francisco, “San Francisco Digital Inclusion Strategy,” at http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/dtis/tech_connect/DigitalInclusionStrategy.doc). City of Milwaukee, “The Milwaukee Digital Inclusion Project Overview,” at http://www.ci.mil.wi.us/Background20654.htm. City of Houston, “Houston's Digital Inclusion Initiative,” at http://www.wecan.houstonlibrary.org/. Some pilot projects are already being conducted, such as the Little Tokyo Unplugged (http://www.littletokyounplugged.org) – a community wireless network in partnership between the Little Tokyo Service Center, Department of Water & Power, and Community Redevelopment Agency. Another example is the City of San Francisco that is working with new Internet companies such as Meraki (http://meraki.com/) to deploy community networks. 18 17 16 The City of San Francisco and the City of Riverside are currently implementing similar programs. For more information, visit: San Francisco, http://sfgov.org/site/digitalinclusion_index.asp?id=71164; Riverside, http://www.smartriverside.com/sp_community.asp. 19 SmartRiverside (http://www.smartriverside.com/), the Digital Inclusion Initiative of the City of Riverside, is collecting revenue by selling e-waste (equipment not suitable refurbishment). 20 CENIC designs, implements, and operates CalREN, the California Research and Education Network, a highbandwidth, high-capacity Internet network specially designed to meet the unique requirements of these communities, and to which the vast majority of the state's K-20 educational institutions are connected. For more information, please visit: http://www.cenic.org/. Several pilot programs are already being conducted in California which are aimed at providing Internet access to affordable, workforce, and public housing: The City of San Francisco is collaborating with the City’s housing authority and the Meraki (http://meraki.com) company to provide free Internet access in several public housing sites: Westside Court, Alice Griffiths, and Valencia Gardens, and in five other housing sites managed by nonprofit organizations. In Los Angeles, CDTech (http://cdtech.org/oldsite/index.php), One Economy (http://www.oneeconomy.com/), and the California Emerging Technology Fund (http://cetfund.org/) are in the process of implementing pilot projects at Sommerville I and II affordable housing projects. 22 21 For more information about the trust fund, please visit: http://lahd.lacity.org/lahdinternet/AffordableHousingTrustFund/tabid/126/Default.aspx. 23 HealthyCity.org is an online community service and policy research tool for all of Los Angeles County. Healthy City provides unprecedented access to the largest database of community resources and localized demographic and health data on a cutting-edge GIS mapping platform. For more information, please visit: http://www.healthycity.org/. 24 The Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006 (DIVCA) established the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as the sole video TV franchising authority in the State of California. This new regulation has decreased the leverage of cities to implement educational and local programming. Examples of organizations conducting model multimedia training programs in Southern California include: Bresee Foundation (http://www.bresee.org), Community Development Technologies Center (http://cdtech.org/oldsite/index.php), YMCA Youth Institute of Long Beach (http://www.lbymcayi.org/), and the USC Annenberg School for Communication (http://annenberg.usc.edu/), among others. 26 27 25 For more information, visit: https://www.alturacu.com/smartriverside/ For more information, visit: “Web Content Accessibility Guidelines,” at (http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/WAIWEBCONTENT-19990505/); “Web Accessibility Initiative,” at (http://www.w3.org/WAI/); “U.S. Section 508 Standards,” at (http://www.accessible.org/section-508-compliance.html); “Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board,” at (http://www.access-board.gov/). AT Network (http://www.atnet.org/) is a program of the California Department of Rehabilitation that is dedicated to expanding the accessibility of tools, resources, and technology that will help increase independence, improve personal productivity, and enhance the quality of life for all Californians. The AT Network services include: 1) Information and Referral; 2) Training; 3) Technical Assistance; and 4) Public Awareness. Some organizations that 28 - Page 8 For more information and co-sign the recommendations, visit: www.digitalinclusionla.wordpress.com serve the disabled community in Los Angeles include: The Alliance for Technology Access (http://www.ataccess.org), Center for Applied Rehabilitation Technology (http://www.rancho.org/cart), Resources & Assistive Technology Center at Harbor Regional Center (http://www.harborrc.org/content/?args=dG1wbD0yJmNpZD0zOCZzaWQ9NSZhaWQ9MA%3D%3D), Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (http://www.calif-ilc.org/), among others. For example, the City of San Francisco conducts regular events in which volunteers install software and train people to use email, web-browsing, online banking, and Internet phone calls; help people find online information about college, small business resources, health information and homework help; among other services. For more information, visit: http://sfgov.org/site/digitalinclusion_index.asp?id=71854. For example, programs such as LEAMOS (http://www.leamos.org/) that teaches basic reading and writing skills in Spanish with on-going, self-paced online instruction can be used in computer labs managed by City departments and agencies. LEAMOS is a program of the Centro Latino for Literacy (http://www.centrolatinoliteracy.org/). 31 30 29 For example, the City of San Francisco, in collaboration with the Building Resources for the Intervention and Deterrence of Gang Engagement (BRIDGE), has recycled computers refurbished by reformed gang members who are part of the BRIDGE program. For more information, visit: http://www.sfgov.org/site/tech_connect_index.asp. Examples of organizations providing access to the Internet and conducting digital literacy projects targeting residents in Los Angeles include: Alliance for a Better Community (http://www.afabc.org/); Alliance for Technology Access (http://www.ataccess.org/); Bresee Foundation (http://www.bresee.org/); Central American Resource Center (http://www.carecen-la.org/); Centro Latino for Literacy (http://www.centrolatinoliteracy.org/); Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (http://www.calif-ilc.org/); Community Development Technologies Center (http://www.cdtech.org/); Foundation for Successful Solutions-Project T.E.C.H. (http://www.fsstech.org/); Los Angeles Urban League (http://www.laul.org/); Little Tokyo Service Center, A Community Development Corporation (http://www.ltsc.org/); Southeast Community Development Corporation (http://www.scdcorp.org/); Youth Policy Institute (http://www.ypiusa.org/); among many others. 33 32 A similar strategy has been undertaken by the City of San Francisco in establishing the San Francisco TechConnect initiative (http://www.sfgov.org/site/tech_connect_index.asp), in which Digital Inclusion is a core component. San Francisco TechConnect is an initiative of the City and County of San Francisco to ensure that all residents can access the Internet to improve their lives. The initiative also includes strategies to provide affordable computers, support and training, and community relevant content to the most underserved residents, to ensure that all residents can benefit from the Internet access. - Page 9 For more information and co-sign the recommendations, visit: www.digitalinclusionla.wordpress.com